The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06
WOMAN'S GREAT INFLUENCE
Mrs. John A. Logan Champions the Cause
of the Fair Sex Against ALI Corners.
The Two Sexes, She Claims. We're Created
Equal. and Are Now So-WomaE's Posi-
tion in POlitics-Their Affection.
Copyrighted 1887.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-Entertaining the be-
lief that the sex has nothing whatever to do
with the character Of an individual, and that
men and women were originally created equal
iE all respects. except in a physical sense, do
not claim for my sex, as much as / love them,
the exclusive possession of all the virtues.
That the temperaments of men and women
are different goes without saying But in male
and female there qualities of the highest
character and noblest impulses. and vice versa
the weakest, most reckless and gnoble The
effect of good and evil influence upon both men
and women is seen daily. The fate of amoi-
tious, Industrious. honorable. proud and talented
man is often deplored, when, through some
strange freak of fancy, it is found that he has
made mistake In the selection of his wife; and
that this puerile fault-fnding, indolent, exact
ing, fretful, careless. hysterical creature whom
he takes 'for better for worse" proves to be his
,vil genius instead of his good angel At every
turn in the high road success she is the STUN
bling block which he finally falls.
On the other hand, how often have we looked
on With fearful eyes to some young woman
of rare talent and superb qualities of head and
heart unequally yoked with man she has prom
ised ito honor and obey" when it is evident to
oil but her. BLINDED as she is by Cupid's darts.
that he is unworthy of such woman and that.
brave as she may be, she can hardly awaken his
sluggish ambition, stimulate his iaggard ener-
gies, arouse his morbid impulses TO high and
noble purposes! Sometimes victory crowEsthe
patient, loving efforts of the wife but unhappily,
It too often ends in the failure of two lives in
stead of one.
In the agitation and discussion of the great
political questions in American politics woman
has had her say, the masculine leaders
recognizing her prowess and the force of her
warfare upon evil principles and unholy doing.
Her influence has ever been for the elevation of
the standard of human government and
mankind. No such intrigues those
which characterized the political influence of
women in monarchical governments have ever
been animated against the women of America
who have been conspicuous in public affairs
Here women openly espouse and fearlessy ad
vocate the causes they believe 10 be right, en-
tering with enthusiasm and determination into
the struggle for their supremacy. Disdainine
the employ ment of the arts and intrieues that
have made famous the names of tie Duchess de
LonguevIlle, Mime. de Chevreuse, Princess Pala-
tina, Nine de Mon tbazon. and many others, our
countrywomen have stood upon higher plane
of virtue and principle. and have, by their in
telligence and sterling character. steadily
wioened the sphere of womans influence and
power, officials, legislative and executive. pay
ing them the willing tribute of respect and con-
sheraton. adopting much that women have
suggested for the betterment of the Nation and
the advancement of the age.
Sometimes women have made mistakes, and
in their zeal for the adoption of their convic-
tons have overstepped their preroeative, and
made their own sex blush for the indelicacy of
their sister
But there must be 'fhewers of wood and draw
ers of water" and ''nasoSs To build" or great
enterprise would succeed. These pioneers IN the
field of woman's sphere have done their work,
and those who come after them can take up the
work with more of policy and polish.
It is a painful reflection that the first instance
OF womans influence over man was to his undo
Ing, and that the long train OF calamitles and
curses that have come down from the Garden of
Eden are charged to the first woman that was
given man. The daughters of Mother Eve
have been able to evade them to be
held guiltless. In far too many instances it is
said in extenuation of mems crimes, There is a
q woman in the case" much after the fashion
OF Adams excuse to the Lord: ''She
tempted and l did eat This smacks
strongly of what gallant men call cowardee.
and the Lord without accepting Adams
excuse, put the curse upon both. Hence they
went from Paradise equally under the ban of
His displeasure for their joint disobedience
shared alike in the Inheritance of earning their
bread by the sweat of their faces.
Our knowledge of the domestic life of the
original families of the earth is very meaRre
and much that is given as fact is really conjec-
ture, the earliest form of government being pa
triarchal, with each head OF family ruling alb
solutey over the other members until the male
memb ers left that family establis Sd families of
their own. The females were held almost in
bondage. the father often selling his daughters
in marriage to suit his convenience Out of this
state of society grew alliances and factions. and
consequently wars. necessitafine combinations
and selection of chieftans. which method finally
resolved itself into kingly power. As natural
sequence war was the rule and not the excep-
ton.
The increasing population required the seek
ing of new homes, and migrations by whole
families or tribes, the women bearing their part
in the burdens Of these wanderings and hard
ships
HfaSn~ nd frrr rh IyohI l.
stances of woman's courage add endurance, in
no sense carrying ont the theory Of her weak
ness.
That these woman exercised great influence
over their warrior fathers. brothers and hus-
ba Ids is constantly shown, and while the hard
ships they endured and the association with
strife and ferocity unavoidably made them little
better than sevages. their fidelity to their hus-
bands and their children, their perfect chastity,
cannot be too much admired. The revolving
spectacle of the beautiful Chlamara bearing the
head of the centurion, wrapped IN the skirt of
her robe, her husband on joining him after her
Escape from captivity, loses much of it's horror
when remember it was in defense of her vir-
tue til she caused the centurion's assassination
and obtained her liberty.
In the different stages Of society, from the leav
ing OF the Garden of Eden until the birth of our
Savior. woman's influence went up and down in
the scale of human affairs. But when Divinity
was born of woman the stronger of creation be- |
gan to give to the weaker consideration much |
beyond her accustomed measure. Thus eman- |
Bipate1 from the bondage and tyranny of bar |
barlsm, sue has steadily Climbs the ladder OF |
equality, until in our day she reisns supreme in I
the heart and respect of man. Enjoying all the |
privileges of education and equal chance in |
ambitions field, the gates OF colleges uuiver- |
sities and professions ever swing outward for |
her admission. That sne has done we'll and |
Kept pace with the of times none can |
deny. But after all, the foundation stone upon |
which rests her sway, and that which is ever |
Ihe weli-spring of human happiness and |
yuccess is her affections, her wlfehood and |
motherhood, her pnrity of thought and loving |
TACT divininQ n de
her dear ones by the magic of her love and I'M
firing vigilance.
Without Christian faith no woman can fill her
mission or know the fullness of happiness in |
this world. By nature devotional, much of the /
progress of Christianity in this country is the
,ruit of her prayers and labors
MRS JOHN A. LOGAN